A plant that recently started blooming on the prairies is Pale-Spike Lobelia (Lobelia spicata), although it is easy to miss among the other plants growing at this time. It's flower will stay around into early August and is an important source of food for insects and hummingbirds. There are several Lobelia species in Wisconsin, but this is generally the only one that grows on the dry bluff prairies.
This perennial plant is about 2 feet tall with a flower structure that is unique and interesting. The 5 petals are white with a varying shades of blue. The two pointing up and back might be said to look like two waving arms beckoning pollinators, "Hey, come over here!" The lower three petals are splayed out and seem to be offered as a nice landing pad for pollinators with two slightly raised yellow areas at the base of the lower petals (see the blue arrow in the following photo). These look like they might be cushions for those pollinators who come in for a crash landing...ok, maybe I've let my imagination run a little wild! Also note the dark blue stigma poking between the upper petals (red arrow) ready to receive pollen.
Although not as big and showy as some of the other Lobelias like Cardinal Flower (L cardinalis) named for its bright red color similar to a cardinal and Great Blue Lobelia (L siphilitica) named because it was thought at one time to be a cure for syphilis, Pale-Spike Lobelia is an important member of the bluff prairie community and feeds many native bees and butterflies. But don't be tempted to eat it yourself...it is quite toxic!
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